Dr. R. K. Bali realized and initiated the idea of modernizing the dental education system in the country.  For this,  an Education Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr. Bali to study this and give their recommendations, keeping in view the following factors :

 

The minimum basic requirements formulated as far  back as 1950 for the BDS course more or less remained the same except with minor revisions and, therefore, needed drastic revision and updating.

 

The dental education system which was based on the pattern prevailing in pre-independence days did not reflect on the emerging challenges and oral health expectations of today’s society.  A need was felt for a shift to ‘preventive’ from  ‘curative’ approach; concept of team work; emphasis on social and preventive measures and concept of community oral health education and the value of holistic approach in clinical training.  Dr. Bali has not only made Dentistry ‘need-based’ but also ‘want-based’.

 

Whereas postgraduate training all over the world was of 3 years, the duration of MDS course in India still remained 2 years, thus the curricula needed up-

gradation in view of developments in various specialties, and in conformity with recommendations of several international bodies.

 

Scope of postgraduate studies required widening and inclusion of newer specialties.

 

In order to provide the much-needed impetus to research activities, serious consideration was given by Dr. Bali for starting newer subjects like Aesthetic Dentistry, Endodontics, Ceramics, Jurisprudence, Implantology etc.

 

The dental manpower requirements had definite bearing on the intake in dental institutions and oral health care delivery, and it needed to be worked out, which had been done and is an on-going process.